Testing instrument



Sept. 19, 1933. H. A. PARSONS TESTING INSTRUMENT Filed April 16, 1929 /m/'e/ffo/ Ha/y A. Fama/7s Patented Sept. 19, 1933 TESTING INSTRUMENT lHarry Aurand. Parsons, Jersey City, N. J., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, Newi York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application Apri116, 1929. serial No. 355,443

11 ottima (c1. 175-1s3) `This invention relates to testing instruments, and more particularly to instruments for testing the continuity of stranded conductors.'V

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An object of the invention is to provide a xture for expeditiously testing a group of strands,

which will be simple, compact, and efficient. l

In accordance with the general features of the invention the apparatus includes a cabinet having. a fixed plateV and a movable plate adjacent Ithereto, the contiguous surfaces of the plates being lined with pads of electrical conducting material' such as steel wool. Associated with the cabinet is a pivoted arm having at one end a Weight and at the other a notch. The plates of the cabinet and the pivoted arm are electrically connected in Vseries with a signal in such manner that when the terminals 4at one end of a group of electrical conducting strands are spread fan- Wise between the pads of steel wool and the terminals at the other end of the strands are inserted individually in the notched end of the pivoted arm, thus completing the circuit, the continuity of the strand is tested by applying tension in the strand against the terminal which has been inserted in the rack, to lift the weight. A cord having satisfactory continuity of the conductor therein and having a satisfactorily attached terminal is indicated by a continued actuation of the signal; conversely, a defective cord is located if the signal ceases to operate.

The nature of the device may be readily understood by the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation thereof, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein corresponding portions of the apparatus are designated by identical reference numerals, a cord testing apparatus designated generally by the numeral l0 is shown, comprising a base 11 on Which is mounted a cabinet l2 and a tensioning unit 13. The cabinet' comprises sides 14-14, a front wall 15, a back wall 16 and a top 17. Y.

A cover plate 18, super-imposed on the top 17, ishingeably secured to the cabinetby means of two oppositely disposed racks 19 which are rigidly secured to the edges of the back member 16. The racks 19 are each provided with an elongated aperture 20 and are engaged by a rod 21 which extends transversely'through the rear end of the 5 Y cover platev 18 and constitutes an axis about which the cover plate rotates when the front end thereof is raised. 'Springs 22 connect the lower portion of each rack 19 with the projecting portions of the rod 21 and act to maintain the cover plate 18 in normal close contact with the top 17 of the 60 cabinet. A hand-hold 23 is secured to the upper surface of the cover plate 18 at the front end thereof to enable an operator to readily lift the cover plate. Hingeably secured to the side edges of the cover plate at a relatively short distance 65, from the rod 21 by bolts 24, are a pair of guide braces 25. The guide braces are-each provided Withfa longitudinal slot-26 which slots are enfgaged by rollers 27 mounted in the opposite sides of the top 17 by bolts 28 and constitute means for 79 y maintaining the cover plate inraised position.` A pad of steel wool 30 is secured to the lower sur-l face of the cover plate 18 by means of a molding frame 31, and a similar pad 32 is secured to the top 17 of the cabinet by a molding frame 33. Steel wool is preferred for use in this connection by reasony of its high conducting properties, its toughness when matted in a pad and by reason of the high degree .of friction encountered in at-l tempting to remove an articleimpressed between 8. the steel wool pads30 and 32. It is obvious, however, that other materials and formsare capable of use in this connection, such as copper tinsel, and fabricated mats composed of conductive materials. The pads 30 and 32 are insulated from the cabinet structure and the cover plate by layers of rubber or other suitable insulating material 34, and are electrically connected by a conductor 35 to abatteryor other suitable source of electricall energy 36. A latch mechanism 37 is mounted on the front Wall '15 by means of a bracket 38 and is rotatable therein around a horizontal pin 39 carried by the bracket. The latch 37 comprises a casing 40 which'encloses a grip pin 41,` and a spring 43 for normally holding the pin against 95, the bottom of thecasing 40. A tongue 44 secured to the upper portion of the grip pin 41 by screws 45 projects from the pin to engage an apertured plate 46, which isattached to the surface of the cover plate 18by screws 47. 10 The base l1 of the cabinet extends beyond one of the sides 14 of the cabinet andY forms the foundation of the tensioning unit 13, which comprises a trunnion 48 having a horizontal axis 51 upon which'is rotatably mounted an angle arm 105 52. To the left of the axis the angle arm is provided'with a threaded bolt ,54 upon which is held, by means of a nut 55, a weight 56. At the other side of the axis 51 the angle larm is provided with 11 o a notched rack 57. The trunnionA structure is separated from the cover plate 18 by a layer of rubber or other suitable insulating material 58. Mounted on the base 11, adjacent the trunnion 48, is a conventional type of incandescent lamp 60 which is electrically connected by means of conductor 6l. with the notched rack 57 and by means of conductor 62 with the source of electrical energy 36. A bundle of conductor cords 64 is shown (Fig. l), the individual cords composing the group being spread fan-wise between the pad 30 and thepad 82, in such manner that theterminal on the end of each cord is electrically interconnected with the pads of steel wool. The cords are each provided with a conventional forked terminal 66.

From the above it may be observed that a source of electrical current connected with the conductor 35 will be effective through the pads 30 and 32 to the terminals 66 of the conductor cords 64 which are impressed between the pads. From the pads, the circuit is traced alongvone of the conductor cords 64 when it is inserted in the notchedrack 57, and thence through the conductor 61 to the lamp 6G, which is thereby illuminated. The circuit is completed through the conductor 62 and returns to the source 36.

In using the apparatus, the curved portion of the pin 37 may be grasped to disengage the tongue 44 from the apertured plate 46. By means of the handehold 23 the cover plate 18 may be raised until itis held in position by means of guide braces 25. The terminals -on the ends of the grouped conductor cords 64 are then deposited fan-wise across the face of the lower pad of steel wool, taking care that every terminal 66 will be electrically in contact with the pads. The cover plate 18 is then. lowered and the pad 3G clamped in close engagement with the lower pad 32 by engagement of the tongue 44 with the apertured plate 46. Since the circuit is otherwise established, it may be closed to illumine the lamp 60 by inserting in the notched rack 57, the terminal 66 on the free end of one of the conductor cords 64. To test the continuity of conductor in the cords and the strength of the joint between the terminal 66 and the cord, the exposed length of the cord may be grasped and by pulling it away from the rack 57 sufficient tension is exerted to raise the weighted arm, as shown in Fig. 3, from its normal resting position. If the lamp remains aglow, the cordand its joint with the terminal 66 have been proven to be of sunicient quality to withstand normal service conditions. Should 5 the lamp be extinguished upon pulling the cord 5 against the weighted arm, the cord will be proven unsatisfactory and may be readily withdrawn from the group. The severity of the test may be readily varied by suitably altering the value of the weight 54.

With the apparatus, it is evident that an ordinarily skillful workman, by spreading the yfree ends of the bundle of conductor cords apart fanwise between the pads of steel wool, may rapidly engage the free ends of them in succession with the notched arm of the angle arm, and may immediately determine the quality of each member of the bundleby observing the lamp. A relatively brief period of timev is consequently necessary to test the condition of each cord of a large group. In the apparatus described, the circuit is designed to actuate the lamp 60 when the circuit is closed by a perfect conductor cord 64. It is obvious that equally satisfactory results may be obtained by substituting other arrangements within the skill of a routine designer, as for installedl by employing a buzzer or bell in lieu of the lamp 60, or for suitably connecting the notched rack with the indicating means to actuate the indicatlng means only when an imperfect conductor cord is under test. It is also practicable to wire applicants apparatus in such manner that the circuit is normally opened, to be vclosed only when the weight 55 has been lifted from its normal resting position shown in Fig. 3, by engage-V ment with the notched rack 57 of either a perfect conductor cord or an imperfect conductor cord as the case may be.

The apparatus described is a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is obvious that it is capable of many modifications without departing from the scope of the inventoin, which should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for testing strands, a circuit including an electrically actuated signal, means for electrically connecting a plurality of conductor cords with the signal, and a pivoted arm responsive to a predetermined tension for rendering the signal operative to test the continuity of any one of the cords.

2. In an apparatus for testing strands, a circuit including a signal, means for exerting a predetermined tension in a strand and a terminal attached thereto to be tested, and means for actuating the signal in accordance with the continuity of the strand and terminal under tension.

3. In an apparatus for testing strands, an electrical circuit including means for exerting a predetermined tension in a strand and a terminal attached thereto to be tested, and means for indicating the continuity of the strand and terminal under tension.

4. In an apparatus for testing strands, a cabinet, cooperative means mounted on the cabinet for frictionally engaging the ends of a group of conductorcords, a member engageable by a selected conductor cord of the group and weighted to simulate a condition, and a signal electrically in circuit with the cooperating means and the weighted member for indicating an electrical characteristicof the cord in view of the simulated condition.

5. In an apparatus for testing strands, a trunnion, an arm pivotally mounted therein having one portion supporting a weight for maintaining the arm in a normal position contrary to a predetermined disturbing force and another portion comprising a notched rack whereby the arm may be moved from its normal position when engaged by a strand having sufficient tension to disturb the weighted arm, and a circuit including a signal operative when the arm is in one position to indicate the continuity of the strand. 6. In an apparatus for testing strands, an electrical circuit including means for clamping a` group of strands by one end, means engageable by one of the strands at the other end thereof for exerting a'tension in the strand, and a signal for indicating the continuity of the strand under the existing tension.

7. In an apparatus for testing strands, means for clamping a group of strands, means engageable by one of the group for exerting a predetermined tension in the strand, and an electrically actuated signal in circuit with the clamping means and the tension exerting means for indicating the continuity of the strand under the existing tension.

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8. In an apparatus for testing strands, means for frictionally engaging a strand under test, pivoted means associated With the strand and Weighted to a predetermined value to maintain the pivoted means in one position, and means electrically associated with the engaging means and the pivoted means for indicating the continuity of the strand when sufficient tension is caused therein to overcome the weighted value and move the pivoted means.

9. In an apparatus for testing strands, an electrical circuit comprising a source of electrical energy, conducting means associated in the circuit for frictionally engaging one end of a strand to be tested, conducting means engageable by the other end of the strand for exerting a tension in the strand above a predetermined value, and means for indicating the continuity of the strand when the tension exceeds the predetermined Value.

10. In an apparatus for testing strands, a circuit including an electrically actuated signal, cooperating means comprising pads of electrically conducting material for making contact with a plurality of strands to be tested, and means for rendering the signal operative to indicate the continuity of any one of the strands.

.11. In an apparatus for testing strands, means comprising cooperating pads of electrically conducting material in brous form for making Contact With a plurality of strands to be tested, and means for exerting a predetermined tension in one of the strands during the testing of the continuity thereof.

HARRY AURAND PARSONS. 

